rambling

adjective

ram·​bling ˈram-b(ə-)liŋ 

1

: proceeding without a specific goal, purpose, or direction: such as

a

: wandering about from one place to another

a rambling walk

b

: straying from subject to subject

a rambling essay/discussion/discourse

a rambling talker

His text is at times repetitious and rambling.

—Robert Howard

c

: stretching, spreading, or growing in a winding or irregular way

a rambling stream

rambling roses

2

: large and informally designed

a rambling farmhouse

… blue-tinged shots give the sinister prison … the air of a rambling edifice out of Dickens.

—Celia Wren

ramblingly adverb

a ramblingly told story

Synonyms of rambling

• wandering
• excursive
• indirect

Examples of rambling in a Sentence

I listened patiently to Mrs. Parsifal's rambling reminiscences, though I had no idea who "Dorothy" and "the stepson" were

the new minister gives rambling sermons that, if they have a point, are lost on the congregation, which invariably falls asleep

Recent Examples on the Web

Lady Banks’ rose (Rosa banksiae) is a large, rambling rose that can quickly grow up to 20 feet long. — Daniel Scott, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 June 2026

While Markey, who gave a long and rambling acceptance speech at the Democrat Party convention, which endorsed him, made no mention of Platner. — Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 6 June 2026

Vocals have an offhand nonchalance instead of hogging the spotlight, melodies sneak up on you rather than announce themselves, and the guitars avoid crunchy riffs and overdriven twang in favor of tart rambling and clean supporting chords. — Reed Jackson, SPIN, 19 June 2026

Spinella shucks off sentimentality, always showing us Con’s offhand humor and sometimes nervous, defensive rambling. — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 3 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1609, in the meaning defined at sense 1